NABET-CWA to Union-Busting NBC: 'We'll Walk and Take Advertisers With Us'

In a move to bust the union, NBC is demanding a change in job titles but not work functions so it can remove positions from the bargaining unit. Undeterred, NABET-CWA members at network-owned stations in four cities have voted overwhelmingly to strike, if necessary.

NABET-CWA Vice President Jim Joyce said NBC has unilaterally switched some jobs to the vague title of "content producer" and wants to switch many more, potentially affecting 200 workers. "The work itself doesn't change; people are largely doing the same jobs they've been doing through their careers  as editors, news photographers and news writers," he said. "But they are being forced to reapply as 'content producers' with no union contract." The union has filed numerous unfair labor practice charges against NBC.

The workers plan to increase informational picketing outside NBC studios that employ 2,500 NABET members in Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, NABET-CWA President John Clark says the union is contacting newsmakers and advertisers asking them to boycott NBC.

"The favorable strike authorization vote shows that our membership understands the significance and danger of the issues confronting us in these negotiations," Clark said. "We will do everything we can to defeat NBC Universal's attempt at union-busting, including the hand-billing of on-air sponsors to inform them of the dispute, and contacting labor-friendly politicians and other public figures to request that they not appear on NBC's news shows."

Bargaining began in September, six months before the contract expired on March 31, 2009. Talks so far have failed to get NBC to budge on critical issues. Besides trying to take away work NABET members have done for decades, the company wants changes in the seniority system that could hurt career workers.